More optimistic than I've been in a long time supporting Connacht. It's killing me that I'm missing the Wasps game.

Anxious, bordering on excited, but never allow myself to get lost in the hype. Like Connachta....... remaining composed.

C'MON CONNACHT !!!!!!!!!!

To sum up my feeling after my W-E in Lacaune, I'd say very enthusiastic, but remainning composed

I must say I'm getting quite excited about this season. Carr and Healy look fast, fit, and sharp and will put real pressure on TOH and Danie P for their places. We have two excellent full backs in Duffy and Robbie H and it looks like the new style is to put some width on the ball a-la-Glasgow.

With Clarke to arrive and lead the pack, and someone like Wullie F looking up for the challenge from young Heenan, then this could be a very good season for us.

The boys looked great in the video (funny how highlight clips can do that) but my observation of Carr's mazy run was that he got the ball back off a loop and had two men outside that he should have passed it to!!!! but maybe that is being picky?

The style of play looked fantastic

clanman wrote: ok so the actual performance was probably in between the report and what the video shows, if Fionn Carr could add a bit of aggressivess in defence he'd get into any team, he's your traditional winger but in todays modern game where wingers are often converted centres his defensive frailties are sometimes shown up. Let's hope that this part of his game has improved for his time at Leinster where he was overlooked in my opinion. Healy's tries were a bit lame but he probably will get some game time through the season. Faloon looked sharp from the brief glimpses on the video, other than that there was'nt whole lot to take out of the video. The main thing was the we didn't pick up any injuries unlike early last season where we suffered from guys picking up injuries.

The thing about Carr though is that between all the tries he scores and the tries scored off players tracking his mazy runs he's always in credit, yes he's no world class defender but he is a top class try scorer and while he has wheels he is certainly one of the better wingers in the Pro12. Centres going to the wing usually have one glaring weakness in general, a serious lack of tries (sorta critical for the role in my book)...

Healy's tries were far from lame, the first was superbly constructed as Connacht stretched the Castres defence one way and then the other and when the space developed the shipped the ball quickly to Healy who did what good wingers do, and backed himself to get in the corner. The second he got up quickly to take the pass from Griff and abckled himself from a good way out again. You can'task much more form a winger in attack..

The other positive was seeing the sharpness of O'Donohoe and Marmion in scoring their tries, always good to see your scrum-halves looking positive....

Anybody know whats wrong Nolan now? Is it another injury? And if so for how long?

I think we look great in the video. 31-0 against the French Champions is a fantastic result.
Glad to hear those reports of Castres scoring any tries were wide of the mark. :silly:

clanman wrote: The main thing was the we didn't pick up any injuries unlike early last season where we suffered from guys picking up injuries.

Indeed, and to compare with what I can directly compare, our level is cleary better than vs Exeter in Athlone, friendly 2011 when Dave Nolan gets his first injury

ok so the actual performance was probably in between the report and what the video shows, if Fionn Carr could add a bit of aggressivess in defence he'd get into any team, he's your traditional winger but in todays modern game where wingers are often converted centres his defensive frailties are sometimes shown up. Let's hope that this part of his game has improved for his time at Leinster where he was overlooked in my opinion. Healy's tries were a bit lame but he probably will get some game time through the season. Faloon looked sharp from the brief glimpses on the video, other than that there was'nt whole lot to take out of the video. The main thing was the we didn't pick up any injuries unlike early last season where we suffered from guys picking up injuries.

As I said, Healy was a finisher but Fionn was the real standout player in my opinion

Of course all isn't positive, already talked about defensive mauls, I could add lack of speed to move the defensive line, and shyness under high balls

But the best way to confirm it was a promising performance, were the old Castres supporters, really mute most of the time, and defining us as "costaud" (translate as "husky")

Have to say, the reports sounded better than the video. That looked like everyone was more interested in staying fit for the real rugby instead of tackling and plugging defensive holes.

It was a good run out, but reports of Healy beating three defenders for a try, when he out ran defenders, were exaggerated, and that makes me wonder about everything else.

I'm sure the reality isn't so bad, but what I heard and what (little) I saw don't match up. But with only 40 minutes per player under their belts we have a lot to look forward to, but lets stay calm.

Here we are

Video is available on Connacht facebook page, didn't manage to post it here

Highlights!


correction about what I said It was Griff and not Finn who regain the ball in front of our 22, but Connor is highly involved in the 2nd Healy try!

Any evidence of improved ball handling? Of course, maximum 2 knock on in the entire match as I remember. Not many offloads, rather quick passes just before contact


Do you think Parks was under instruction to kick less? Really think so, one or two up and under, and even then, It was maybe our fullback. very very few kicks to touch, not to say none..

Ronaldson had fun with drop goal attempts at the end of the Sunday trainning session, 40 metres away, 15 metres from the touchline, not enough strengh, but direction seemed pretty good!